Experience is a Great Teacher

As a business owning Veterinarian who would you rather hire? An experienced Veterinarian with sky high productivity or a fresh new Veterinarian with outstanding book knowledge but no experience or the confidence that comes with experience?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

I have been a Veterinarian for over 45 years. I never see anything new anymore… vomiting dog, dog with diarrhea, dog with organ failure, dog with cancer, dog with neurologic disorders, etc., etc., etc. I can walk into a room with a panicked client and calmly make a diagnosis and and offer treatment and usually I don’t have to run a bunch of expensive diagnostics to do so.

Let’s talk about Elders in a congregation and who is best qualified to lead the congregation.

What if a young man went to a Bible college and graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned a bunch of letters after his name and could answer any question based on the Bible? And all his friends were scholars of the Bible? Would he make a good Elder?

What about an older man who never went to college who worked with his hands but studied his Bible every day and raised godly children and godly grandchildren. A man who worked among common people and was exposed to every kind of problem that comes with living and working with ungodly people. Would he make a good Elder?

You can have all the great teachers in the world but the greatest teacher is experience and that only comes with age. They say it takes 12 months to get a years experience. There are no short cuts.

God chose to have older experienced men to lead his congregations. Men who have experienced marriage and everything life has to throw at you.

I appreciate young inexperienced Veterinarians because after all that’s what I used to be.

I also appreciate young men who dedicate themselves to the study of God’s word. With age and experience they will make great leaders one day. It just takes time.